Under the Whispering Door
by T.J. Klune
Overall Rating: 4.5*
Someone is there to aid us in moving on: Life as we know it is temporary, so much that we don't know what will happen in the next instant. Still we plan for years in the future. We plan for a future we never know if it will come or not. How much a reaper and ferry man can help you and how much can you understand about your own death. It is so difficult to accept that you are dead, that life as you knew about is finished and that you have to leave everything and move on. Apart from things that you gathered, you have to leave your relationships behind, your own behind. Even if you want you can not share the pain of your own death with people you have shared everything in your life. Death breaks things for the living and for the dead.
Dark and light brought together beautifully: The book is full of all emotions, pain, loss, acceptance, fear and humor. I could never think someone could combine such dark feelings with so light instances such easily. How do you live up to the fact that you are dead. All dreams, plans for the future gone. It just almost feels incomplete - How will I do whatever I intended to do if I die today. The moment you actually feel this and realize this, it becomes a moment of truth.
Very well written with characters doing exactly what they intend to do. The concept of introducing a person to take you forward has been ever existing in the Indian mythology. We have since children heard of Yamraaj. The international version being the ferry man and the reaper is being discussed here. Life after death and moving on are areas which have always been a mystery for humans. These are well handled in the book. It is good to see that even after that the book is interesting and difficult to put down.
End being made beautiful without need: I have deducted half a point from my rating just because of the ending. The end has been turned and made to look and seem all positive and beautiful. This was not required in my view. What has to end must end and what is the due course of nature should meet its end.
Moral of the story - Live today, enjoy today, love today, whatever you want to do; do it today. I am going to do exactly that.
